A lush green garden!

By Mélanie Villeneuve, ornamental horticulture technician

It’s springtime, and you’re planning a lengthy stay at your favourite campground. On the other hand, you would have really liked to grow some flowers and vegetables this summer. No problem! You don’t have to choose between gardening and camping – just take your garden with you!

Gardening on the go

You will need to plant your garden in containers, needless to say, but you still have plenty of options. There are all kinds of great-looking plastic pots on the market these days. They’re light, unbreakable and easy on the budget, and come in a wide range of colours and styles. Larger sizes (12 or more inches in diameter) are best, to cut down on watering. Containers with a built-in water reservoir are also a good choice.

Geotextile grow bags are also an excellent, super-practical option. They’re designed to promote root growth, and are light and easy to fold up and move. You can find them at your local garden centre.

In warm weather, you’ll probably have to water your plants every day. Use special potting soil designed for containers and add absorbent granules to reduce watering needs. Choose drought-tolerant plants like Portulaca, Bidens, Black-eyed Susan,Pennisetum, Scaevola, etc.

Houseplants

Annual flowers are a perfect way to brighten up your campsite. Houseplants, too. Why not take them with you? It also means you won’t have to worry about finding someone to water them while you’re away!

Spring is the ideal time to repot your houseplants. Take this opportunity to transplant them into pots suitable for the outdoors. Make sure your containers have drainage holes and are easily transportable.

Wait until the risk of frost is past before moving your plants outside. Allow them to adapt slowly when you first take them outdoors. Keep them out of direct sunlight for a few days.

Lastly, when it’s time to leave, inspect your plants and pots to make sure you don’t take any “hitchhikers” home with you!

A vegetable patch for your campsite

What could be better than a juicy tomato straight off the vine to go with your barbecue? Geotextile grow bags are perfect for growing vegetables and herbs. They hold plenty of soil and provide good air circulation.

Choose potting soil designed specifically for growing vegetables in containers – you can find it at your local garden centre. When buying vegetable plants, make sure the varieties you choose are suitable for containers. You’ll have better success with smaller varieties like ‘Patio’ or cherry tomatoes, ‘Fanfare’ cucumbers, mini sweet peppers, etc. Leafy vegetables like Swiss chard and lettuce do very well in containers. Be sure to keep them out of full sun during hot weather, though.

You don’t have to do without herbs, either! Mint, chives, rosemary and thyme are all very hardy. You can even move them easily from one campground to another.